The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1887-10-26
RAILROAD ACCIDENT.
Several Persons Killed...Great De.
struction OF Property -. Careless.

GreenuHe NetUs.
It was fearful tidIngs that come to the city
early yesterday morning.
Dreadful rufnors, oil the more dreadful that
their tones, and talk with bated breath. The
rumors told OF q dreadful railroad disaster
and the loss OF human lives. The true story
rapidly developed, and II carried Its full Of
The north bound passenger train on the Air
Line road and southward bound freight
train, met on the track at point nine and
one-half miles from The city, and two and
one-half miles from Greer's station. A fear
full collision followed In which three lives
were lost, one man was fatally injured, ana
ntne others wounded In greater or less de-
| {rees of severity. The accident aroused the
deepest Interest here, and the entire force OF
physicians In the city together with hundreds
| IF people, actunted by motives OF charity or
curiosity visited the scene of the wreck dur
ing the day. Nothing else was talked OF In
town.
WHY 1T HAPPENED.
Passenger train No. 81, due here 1:01 q, m,
:esterdny, was delayed by the crowd Of ex-
Iursionists, returning from the Atlanta ex-
y-tve minutes behind time. Night Operator
Nicholes had orders for "dfty-One'' to run
l -four hours and twenty minutes late" He
lel.yered copies Of the order to Conc GondT e
receiving the signatures OF each. The effect
If this order was to set back the schedule, the
time indicated, four hours and twenty min
utes. This Information was given to the Off
':ials Of all trains on the road. 1t was given
to Conductor Reville and Engineer Joe Har.
! ris Of the south bound special freight.
shSy ateT the Ts It's
pot, the special freight rolled into Greer's sta
tlon. There were no orders for 1t there and
the operator did not meet the train. Had the
have been no collision. Why 1t did not can
only be surInised, for the engineer and con-
tor Of the train. who could tell better than
| owed, have disappeared and no one knows
their whereabouts; Like the criminal fleeing
It is probable that the freight men calculat.
miles this side Of Greer's, before the delayed
passenger made that point. The train rolled
out Of the station and on Its way to Taylor's.
The two trains were Off and away, each all
unaware of the terrible meeting before them.
HOW IT HAPPENED.
About two miles and half this side OF
Greer's Is long stretch OF track with steep
down grade, followed by a long curve. 1t was
here that the trains met. The passenger rum
big curve. The freight train rolling down
the grade, with pnimpeded momentum, rush.
ed on. Like the terrible combat OF fiery mon
sters, was their meeting. The two huge en-
crash and single powerful tremor, settled
back from their embrace. 1t was the work Of
an instant.
In moment, the locomotive OF the passen.
ger train, or such OF 1t as could be distin-
guished from It's fellow was lying broadside
on the right Of the track, while the freight
engine was overturned on the other side.
The fearful shock had mangled and crushed
the big machines almost out OF the senblance
of locomotives. Only trangled mass OF
iron bars and iron plates was left OF them.
The fires OF the furnances soon communicat-
ed to the waste and combustible substances
around the engines, leaving q smoke like the
smoke OF grim and bloody battle.
THE DEAD AND INJURED.
wounded, which has been gathered from the
most authentic sources, and IL believed to be
complete and accurate:
Mrs, Hampton Mcdowell, Of Asheville, N.
kobertF. Wall, Of Charlotte, N. c., engineer
passenger train, killed.
j. l.. Webster, OF Columbus, Georgia, fire.
man of freight, died from injuries.
j. b. Erwin, of Asheville, N. C., fracture Of
left leg, and right foot crushed and mangled.
His condition was considered serious last
night.
Willie Erwin Of Asheville, N. c., and Miss B.
F. Quinn. of Washington, slight but painful
| injuries.
s. NJ. Dykeman, of Atlanta, mail route
agent, injured back and wounded hand.
w. r. Wilson, OF Atlanta, mail route agent.
slight Injuries
Jas. Kilian, OF Greenv,lle. mail route
agent, Injured In spine, with cash on face
Ed. Parnell, Of Charlotte. N. c.. fireman OF
! passenger, scalded In face and about head and
, shoulders, with painful bruises.
Philip Black, colored, OF Charlotte. N. c.,
trainman on freight, conclusion OF brain.